Criminal Justice Commission
Minutes of the Special Meeting
July 22, 2019
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Note: Minutes were amended by vote at Special Meeting of August 1, 2019.
The Criminal Justice Commission met for a special meeting on Monday, July 23, 2019, at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m.
Also in attendance was The Honorable Melanie L. Cradle, attorneys Robert Berke, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Scott Murphy and Moy N. Ogilvie and Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane, and Division of Criminal Justice Director of Human Resources Catherine Riberio, DCJ Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist Janice duFrend and Stephen J. Sedensky III, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Danbury.
Attorney Murphy made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 6, 2019, meeting. Attorney Berke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced Catherine Riberio, who recently joined the Division of Criminal Justice as Director of Human Resources, and DCJ Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist Janice duFrend.
State’s Attorney Sedensky explained the current staffing at the Danbury State’s Attorney’s Office.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that David Shepack will retire August 1, 2019, as State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Litchfield. Chief State’s Attorney Kane said he did not see the need to appoint an interim State’s Attorney as the Commission plans to meet in September to make the permanent appointment and Kevin D. Lawlor, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney for Operations, would provide any necessary coverage in the interim.
The Commission proceeded to interview six candidates who were being considered only for the four vacancies in the Danbury Judicial District.
The Commission recessed at 1:15 p.m. for lunch. The Commission reconvened at 1:52 p.m.
Attorney Betts made a motion to enter executive session to consider the Danbury vacancies. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. No motions were made or votes taken during the executive session, which ended at 2:05 p.m.
The Commission reconvened in public session. Attorney Ogilvie made a motion to fill two of the four Danbury positions by tentative offers for Matthew Knopf and Mary Catilin-Harding. Attorney Murphy seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Richard J. Colangelo, Jr., State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk, and Margaret E. Kelley, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Ansonia/Milford, joined the Commission for interviews of three candidates for vacancies in either or both of those districts. The interviews concluded at 3:50 p.m.
Justice McDonald asked members to notify Chief State’s Attorney Kane and Executive Secretary Jennifer Costa of the dates they are available to meet in September.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m.